I have a question regarding a suitable battery charger to go along with a petrol generator/solar set up.
Generator is primarily for extra charging of the 12v batteries when the sun dont shine!
So, reading around as much as I could, I see that people have experienced unreliabilty and unexpected results when attempting to use a car-type battery charger with a (non ineverter type) 240 volt generator.
I see that there are mostly switch-mode and the classic transformer types of battery chargers.
Which type is most suiatble to pair with a generator?
Thanks in advance.
-- Edited by Gordo65 on Friday 21st of September 2012 12:22:33 PM
Had a look at those two you listed. They both seem to be switch mode types. The genny is just a basic 900 watt non-inverter type IE the kind that is running @3000 rpm constantly. I have tested it with a medium load and it puts out a pretty stable 240 - ish volts. The frequency varies a little with load changes 45-55 Hz or so although it does stabilise after a few seconds. It seems to not love load changes but is happy enough putting along once it settles. The main thing I am trying to establish is the design type of chargers that will work with this type. I have read a bit of conflicting info so here I am asking the collective wisdom here as to which type are the most tolerant of a basic genny's bad habits :)
-- Edited by Gordo65 on Friday 21st of September 2012 11:45:56 PM
The out put of the geni is what would kill the charger.
I have 2 x 40amp chargers that I got from ebay one is like 110953054134 that I have run it for a few hours on the geni so far to test it and seems to go ok and also works well on 240 with the fan only turning on when the charger gets hot.
The other one is like 280853947994 that I have run for many hours on 240 but never on the geni but the fan does not turn off it runs full time and it noisey.
I have 8 x 110 amp batteries in my van so the next time we go away the chargers will get a good test. (i have 540watts of solar also)
I run a 5kva inverter geni - (made in China) but it was only $600 the same as item 130768258849 it seems to be really good I have used it a number of times but never to charge the batts only for heater and cooking ect.
Hi Gordo, I use a simmilar type of Generator (GMC) with SMPS type equipment. But i also run a 100W globe as a stabilizing & spike absorbing load, & never let it run out of fuel, this is when the engine will vary its RPM & likely to do damage.
Yep I am "on to" the 100watt light bulb trick to stabilise the output. It definitely helps, from my testing.
So are you guys saying the SMPS types will work best with this type of genny? I read that the transformer ones do work but only at about half normal output, although I cant understand why. It would seem to me that they would be more hardy.
